I want to buy this gun...what is it?

[JohnKSa]

Are you sure?

It's impossible to be 100% sure, but proof marking dates back to blackpowder days and I'm not aware of any country in Europe that didn't do it. I know that at least some guns in both Sweden and Switzerland were proofmarked dating back well before WWII. That said, it's not possible to be 100% certain that none slipped through and I don't know what the rules are regarding proofmarking prototypes in all the European countries.

It's all a guess, there's nothing 100% sure in any of this. My guess is that it was not made in 1944 because that seems like an implausible time for people to be making high-quality single shot pistols virtually anywhere in the world. My guess is that it was not made in Europe because of the practice of proofmarking guns that seems to be nearly universal in European countries. My guess is that it is a one-off/prototype gun, made in the U.S., by an individual, well after WWII.

 

[Labguy47]

I am going to hazard a guess. A female friend of mine who's father taught Olympic target shooting suggests that this may have been made for one of the contestants to either train with or use if he was proficient enough to enter the Olympics. That person probably never got to compete in the 13th Olympic Games of 1944 because they where cancelled due to WW II, and those Games where to be held in London who won the bid in 1939.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

I would also not rule out this being a gunsmith student’s proof of work.

 

[Jim Watson]

Sounds more likely to me. The type was long obsolete for Olympic level of competition, the falling block free pistol was on the market in 1939, and I don't know how long before.

 

[Shimitup]

I think if you bought it at least you'd get your money back, just post it for sale here. Like WestKentucky said. it is just so stinking cool.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Sounds more likely to me. The type was long obsolete for Olympic level of competition, the falling block free pistol was on the market in 1939, and I don't know how long before.

The student’s sample makes sense. How better to provide proof of craft than by providing a sample one’s best work to a prospective employer?

 

[entropy]

I am going to hazard a guess. A female friend of mine who's father taught Olympic target shooting suggests that this may have been made for one of the contestants to either train with or use if he was proficient enough to enter the Olympics. That person probably never got to compete in the 13th Olympic Games of 1944 because they where cancelled due to WW II, and those Games where to be held in London who won the bid in 1939.

And that would jibe with the possibility that M.K Jurek made the gun. Dr. Jurek was stationed in Germany after the war, but I do not know his whereabouts in 1944. He could have made it for an Olympic contender, or for his own use, having been a target pistol shooter for some time by then.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

And that would jibe with the possibility that M.K Jurek made the gun. Dr. Jurek was stationed in Germany after the war, but I do not know his whereabouts in 1944. He could have made it for an Olympic contender, or for his own use, having been a target pistol shooter for some time by then.

An article about Jurek. Pretty fascinating.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30032542

He set up in Birmingham, undertaking general gunsmithing work and producing his target pistols. While clearly in lineal descent from the Tranter and Webley single shots, and intended for National Smallbore Rifle Association precision courses of fire, they nevertheless reflected features found on Continental target pistols, and were exceptionally well-developed arms for their period. They reflect Jurek's engineering, rather than craft gunsmithing, background, for instance in the use of hex bolts.

The only fly in the Jurek ointment is that, in this very specific context, I would expect to see Birmingham proofs on this gun. He would have known to submit for proof, on the basis of the article i quoted. Also would expect this pistol to at least be stamped as made by Jurek, as suggested in the article OP says the proof marks aren’t there, and apparently no maker marks, either. Either the photos don’t show it or they aren’t on the gun. I do wonder if he had an apprentice, though.

 

[robhof]

Check out some of the Steyr offerings from the 1st war issue, looks like some of their offerings, had a cousin with a WW2 Steyr in 9mm Korth/380 it was semiauto but with similar lines.

 

[Legionnaire]

Very cool. Did we confirm it's a rimfire?

 

[datasmith]

Per a forum member's suggestion I sent the gun photo's to these guys:
https://royalarmouries.org/
... in hopes that they might be able to shed some light.
Haven't got a response yet.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

It is a puzzlement but I hope the answer is out there someplace.
Looking forward to finding out the what, where and who in the near future.

 

[entropy]

The only fly in the Jurek ointment is that, in this very specific context, I would expect to see Birmingham proofs on this gun. He would have known to submit for proof, on the basis of the article i quoted.

He surely would have, but if the 1944 is a date, he may not have been in England. But he might have had access to the machinery to build a one-off to "keep his hand in" so to speak, for his own target shooting. (and gunsmithing.) That's why I suggested looking for his mark, but if he'd had limited access to tools, might not have had the time. Or could be an apprentice's gun, too.